Iraq in negotiations to become WTO member

[YANNAVIA]

Article Link

22/05/2011 13:34

Erbil, May 22 (AKnews) - Iraq is negotiating to become a full member in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the trade minister said today.

Kheirullah Hasan told AKnews that the negotiations have been going on behind closed doors for a while running and will resume in Morocco soon.

Iraq is currently an honorary member in the WTO, which has 152 permanent members. At present the members treat Iraq solely as a business partner. If the country is granted permanent membership, it can interact with members in the four main fields of health, agriculture, trade and economy.

The minister said that no specific timescale has been laid out for the conclusion of the talks.

The WTO only allows countries who have opened up their economies through free-market reforms to become full members. Iraq has started to implement these kinds of changes, following decades of moving towards more a more state-centric economic model.

By Fryad Mohammed

LH/PS

[drummerboy]

NICE....

[Psych]

OK...we are moving in the right direction here...Iraq must have an international/tradeable currency to be a member of the WTO. This means they need to RV prior to full accession. Hopefully these talks are done and over with soon.

[Gibbs427]

"Kheirullah Hasan told AKnews that the negotiations have been going on behind closed doors for a while running and will resume in Morocco soon.

Let's hope a lot more things are getting done behind closed doors because what's done in the open doesn't move along very well does it?

"

[BUSHMAN]

let rock and roll iraq

[YANNAVIA]

I would sure like to know when "resume in Morroco soon" is!

[tjmunson]

Article Link

22/05/2011 13:34

Erbil, May 22 (AKnews) - Iraq is negotiating to become a full member in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the trade minister said today.

Kheirullah Hasan told AKnews that the negotiations have been going on behind closed doors for a while running and will resume in Morocco soon.

Iraq is currently an honorary member in the WTO, which has 152 permanent members. At present the members treat Iraq solely as a business partner. If the country is granted permanent membership, it can interact with members in the four main fields of health, agriculture, trade and economy.

The minister said that no specific timescale has been laid out for the conclusion of the talks.

The WTO only allows countries who have opened up their economies through free-market reforms to become full members. Iraq has started to implement these kinds of changes, following decades of moving towards more a more state-centric economic model.

By Fryad Mohammed

LH/PS

Absolutely awesome post!!!

The WTO only allows countries who have opened up their economies through free-market reforms to become full members. Iraq has started to implement these kinds of changes, following decades of moving towards more a more state-centric economic model.

For me, that line says it all. They have no timeline, however negotiations have started and if they want to be taken seriously, GUESS WHAT........they have to RV in order to become a full member.

Peace

[sandfly]

come on with it

[design interrupted]

Off the top of my head I believe the deadline to join WTO in 2011 is June 2, 2011. I hope they get it done so we don't have to wait til 2012.

[keepmwlknfny]

Article Link

22/05/2011 13:34

Erbil, May 22 (AKnews) - Iraq is negotiating to become a full member in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the trade minister said today.

Kheirullah Hasan told AKnews that the negotiations have been going on behind closed doors for a while running and will resume in Morocco soon.

Iraq is currently an honorary member in the WTO, which has 152 permanent members. At present the members treat Iraq solely as a business partner. If the country is granted permanent membership, it can interact with members in the four main fields of health, agriculture, trade and economy.

The minister said that no specific timescale has been laid out for the conclusion of the talks.

The WTO only allows countries who have opened up their economies through free-market reforms to become full members. Iraq has started to implement these kinds of changes, following decades of moving towards more a more state-centric economic model.

By Fryad Mohammed

LH/PS

Great stuff!! Now if they only would lay out a time scale and get this done pronto, otherwise with them it could take another freakin year before everything is said and done LOL....they need this membership ASAP....it should help stimulate their economy in more then just the oil sector....they need to be more balanced instead of just heavily relying on oil

Off the top of my head I believe the deadline to join WTO in 2011 is June 2, 2011. I hope they get it done so we don't have to wait til 2012.

Where did you read the deadline to join?? Not sure I remember seeing anything about a deadline......but yea the sooner the better!!

[keepmwlknfny]

OK...we are moving in the right direction here...Iraq must have an international/tradeable currency to be a member of the WTO. This means they need to RV prior to full accession. Hopefully these talks are done and over with soon.

Not necessarily.....its not a requirement for them to RV before becoming members, but having a tradeable currency is. But they did clearly state that one of their objectives once membership is gained is to close the gap between the USD and the dinar.....It is entirely possible for them to join the WTO with the exchange rate where it is currently.....Unfortunately lol

[rsskelton]

I dont think there is a timeline. The attached article is a bit old, but I think it supports my statement.

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/22/idUSGEE5AL03P._CH_.2400

[ROCKSCISSORSPAPER]

I thought so too, design interrupted on the WTO date. It was posted quite awhile ago in the forums.

[Flash101]

Article Link

22/05/2011 13:34

Erbil, May 22 (AKnews) - Iraq is negotiating to become a full member in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the trade minister said today.

Kheirullah Hasan told AKnews that the negotiations have been going on behind closed doors for a while running and will resume in Morocco soon.

Iraq is currently an honorary member in the WTO, which has 152 permanent members. At present the members treat Iraq solely as a business partner. If the country is granted permanent membership, it can interact with members in the four main fields of health, agriculture, trade and economy.

The minister said that no specific timescale has been laid out for the conclusion of the talks.

The WTO only allows countries who have opened up their economies through free-market reforms to become full members. Iraq has started to implement these kinds of changes, following decades of moving towards more a more state-centric economic model.

By Fryad Mohammed

LH/PS

AGAIN

[keepmwlknfny]

I dont think there is a timeline. The attached article is a bit old, but I think it supports my statement.

Link: http://www.reuters.c...AL03P._CH_.2400

Base off the link you provided, it seems there isent really a timeline but they say that if Iraq works towards the goal of being a full member dilligently, then by end of this year is the earliest they could get in....

[tjmunson]

Some additional info on Iraq's assession........

ACCESSIONS

Iraq

A Working Party to examine the application of Iraq was established at the General Council meeting of 13 December 2004. Iraq submitted its Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime in September 2005. The Working Party met for a second time in April 2008 to continue the examination of Iraq’s foreign trade regime.

Trade Statistics

WTO Statistics Database

News back to top

13 December 2004: Accession working parties established for Afghanistan, Iraq

> More news on Iraq

Status of accession working party back to top

For an explanation, see: “How to become a member of the WTO”

1. Application Received

30 September 2004

2. Working Party Established

Chairperson:

H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale

(Morocco, May 2009 - )

H.E. Mrs. Claudia Uribe

(Colombia, Dec 2006 — May 2009)

13 December 2004

3. Memorandum

16 September 2005

4. Questions and Replies

28 November 2006

5. Meetings of the Working Party

25 May 2007

2 April 2008

6. Recently submitted documentation

(a) Additional Questions & Replies

8 February 2008

( Information on agriculture (WT/ACC/4)

8 December 2008

© Information on services (WT/ACC/5)

(d) SPS/TBT checklists (WT/ACC/8)

8 February 2008

(e) TRIPS checklist (WT/ACC/9)

8 February 2008

(f) Legislative Action Plan

8 February 2008

7. Market Access Negotiations

Goods Offer

(a) initial

( latest

Services Offer

(a) initial

( latest

8. Factual Summary

9. Draft Working Party Report

The average time for acceptance is 5 years so Iraq is currently in that window.

http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/a1_iraq_e.htm

[kwg]

Good post Tjmunson +1 for you this moring

[Carrello]

Absolutely awesome post!!!

The WTO only allows countries who have opened up their economies through free-market reforms to become full members. Iraq has started to implement these kinds of changes, following decades of moving towards more a more state-centric economic model.

For me, that line says it all. They have no timeline, however negotiations have started and if they want to be taken seriously, GUESS WHAT........they have to RV in order to become a full member.

Peace

Thank you TJ. Awesome point!!!!!

We have to remember to take a birds eye view of what is happening with many entities, and do not sit and wait for Maliki to grunt. This is a puzzle with many pieces, Maliki just being one, and the pieces are falling into place. I would just like to know exactly who the Puzzle Master is. But for plebians like us, the main show is just getting the RV completed and walking away with some profit.

[YANNAVIA]

Thanks so much tj for bringing this additional info to light.....we have to remember how many pieces there are to the puzzle. Great post (+1)

[Dianne]

Thanks for the post!

[Danneedsrvnow]

Becoming a full member

Once approved by the General Council of Ministerial Conference, the applicant is then free to sign the Protocol of Accession stating that it accepts the approved “accessions package” subject to ratification in its national parliament. Normally three months is given from signature of the Protocol of Accession for this to take place.

Thirty days after the applicant government notifies the WTO Secretariat that it has completed its ratification procedures, the applicant government becomes a full Member of the WTO.

[roughwoods]

I would sure like to know when "resume in Morroco soon" is!

WTO meets in Morroco June 29th and 30th 2011

[YANNAVIA]

Correct me if I'm wrong please....the conference over the last two days would have completed the first part of this?

[Caducues]

now i could have sworn this is old news and that they had already begun discussions and possibly completed them about a month ago.... i know the wto negotiations were started around april or march.

[Carrello]

I would think, like most large announcements, that the negotiations are complete, or near completion, and the meetings are used to make an announcement of their decision. The WTO accession meeting(s) are being held June 2-3. Perhaps we will know something then and will not have to wait for Morocco.